WO2012175467A1

WO2012175467A1 - Apparatus and method for introducing objects into a smoking article

Info

Publication number: WO2012175467A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/061636
Authority: WO
Inventors: Diego Ferrazzin; Michele Pagnoni; Ivan Prestia; Massimiliano BERTOLDO; Giovanni LUCA MARU'; Stefano Vezzosi
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
Priority date: 2011-06-20
Filing date: 2012-06-19
Publication date: 2012-12-27
Also published as: EP2720566B1; ES2596370T3; KR20140032440A; RU2014101514A; JP6016040B2; CN103635107A; KR102024395B1; CN103635107B; BR112013032904B1; BR112013032904A2; PL2720566T3; HUE030749T2; RU2599236C2; EP2720566A1; JP2014519829A

Abstract

An apparatus for introducing objects into a continuous flow of material comprises: - a reservoir (1) for providing objects; - a rotatable transfer wheel (3) for transporting and delivering the objects to an insertion unit for introducing the object into a continuous flow of material; - a transfer chamber (2) for transferring the objects to the transfer wheel (3), the transfer chamber (2) being arranged between the reservoir (1) and the transfer wheel (3). The rotatable transfer wheel (3) is provided with recesses (320) where the objects can be transferred and retained through the application of suction until they are delivered to the insertion unit. The rotatable transfer wheel (3) comprises a suction inlet arranged in the center of the rotatable transfer wheel (3) such as to provide suction through the center of the rotatable wheel (3) and comprises fluidic connections for providing a fluidic communication between the suction inlet and the recesses (320).

Description

Apparatus and method for introducing objects into a smoking article

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for introducing objects into a continuous flow of material. For example, the objects may be capsules which are to be introduced into a continuous flow of filter material during manufacture of the filter component of a smoking article.

Smoking articles, for example cigarettes, typically have a rod-shaped structure and include a column of smokable material such as cut filler. The cut filler is typically surrounded by a paper wrapper thereby forming a so-called "tobacco rod". In filter cigarettes a cylindrical filter element is aligned in an end-to-end relationship with the tobacco rod. By way of example, a filter element may comprise cellulose acetate tow filter material. The filter material may be circumscribed by a paper material known as "plug wrap". The filter element is typically attached to one end of the tobacco rod using circumscribing wrapping material known as "tipping paper".

Various proposed methods for modifying the sensory attributes of smoke involve incorporating additional elements into the filter as vehicles for adding additional flavour to the mainstream smoke in the smoking article. For example, it has been suggested to introduce objects such as capsules into the filter material during manufacture of the filter elements.

Various methods and apparatuses have been suggested for introducing such objects into the filter material during manufacture of the filter elements for smoking articles. One such apparatus is described, for example, in WO-A-2010/055120. The apparatus according to the WO-A-2010/055120 comprises a reservoir containing the objects. The reservoir opens out into a transfer chamber in which, in operation, the objects are circulated. The objects circulating in the transfer chamber move along the peripheral surface of a rotatable transfer wheel. The transfer wheel has recesses (pockets) in its peripheral surface, and the objects are introduced into and retained in the recesses with the aid of suction applied to the recesses. By rotation of the transfer wheel the objects are transported to an insertion location where they are released from the transfer wheel and introduced into the continuous flow of filter material.

There is an ongoing need in the mass manufacture of filters to manufacture such filters as efficient and reliable as possible. This means, that there is a need for an apparatus that reliably places one object into a filter element. According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus and method for introducing objects into a continuous flow of material. While in the following specification only embodiments are illustrated in which objects are inserted into filter material, the invention also comprises cases in which the objects are inserted into other parts of a smo- king article, for example into the tobacco rod or into a cavity in the filter.

The apparatus according to the invention comprises a reservoir for providing a plurality of objects, a rotatable transfer wheel for transporting the objects to an insertion unit for introducing the objects into the continuous flow of material, and a transfer chamber for transferring the objects to the rotatable transfer wheel. The transfer chamber is ar- ranged between the reservoir and the rotatable transfer wheel. The rotatable transfer wheel is provided with recesses into which the objects can be transferred and in which the objects can be retained through the application of suction. The objects are retained in the recesses until the objects are delivered from the rotatable transfer wheel to the insertion unit for introducing the objects into the continuous flow of material. The rotatable transfer wheel comprises a suction inlet arranged in the center of the rotatable wheel such as to provide suction through the center of the rotatable wheel. The rotatable transfer wheel further comprises fluidic connections for providing a fluidic communication between the suction inlet and the recesses.

A "fluidic connection for providing fluidic communication" denotes any connection or part of a connection that allows the transmission of suction or overpressure from the suction inlet in or at the center of the rotatable transfer wheel to the recesses in the transfer wheel.

According to the invention, an object refers to any individual item that may be handled by the apparatus and method according to the invention. Preferably, the object is a substantially spherical object. Preferably, the substantially spherical object has a diameter of between about 0.5 mm and about 6.5 mm; more preferably, the substantially spherical object has a diameter of between about 2.5 mm and about 4.0 mm. Preferably, the substantially spherical object is a capsule. Preferably, the capsule comprises a liquid. Preferably, the liquid is flavorant, for example, menthol. Preferably, the capsule is crushable, that is, the capsule can release its content when a sufficient crushing strength is applied. With like objects, it is particularly important to handle the objects carefully as not to release the liquid within the capsules during the manufacturing process.

The arrangement of the suction inlet in the center of the rotatable transfer wheel and the fluidic connections for providing the fluidic communication between the suction inlet and the recesses allow for an easy supply of the suction at a single location (at the centrally arranged suction inlet such that suction is provided at least along a portion of the rotational axis of the rotatable transfer wheel). The suction is then "distributed" by the fluidic connections to the individual recesses of the rotatable transfer wheel. This is a simple and reliable solution from a constructional point of view, in particular when compared to the apparatuses known from the prior art. As becomes apparent from the embodiments described below, this constructional approach results in a variety of embodiments being conceivable which are simple from a constructional point of view. At the same time, these embodiments are highly reliable in particular at high speed of the transfer wheel, thus rendering the apparatus according to the invention particularly effective.

In one embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention the rotatable transfer wheel comprises three adjacently arranged discs. The first disc of the three discs is a transfer disc comprising the recesses for receiving the objects from the transfer chamber. The second disc is a connection disc comprising at least a part of the fluidic connections between the suction inlet and the recesses. The third disc is a supply disc comprising the suction inlet arranged in the center of the supply disc. The connection disc is arranged in between the supply disc and the transfer disc. The constructional approach comprising the afore-mentioned three discs allows to essentially separate the functions "external suction supply at the center of the wheel", "distribution of the suction from the center of the wheel to the individual recesses", and "transport of the objects from the transfer chamber to the insertion unit". This separation of functions allows for further constructional options as becomes apparent in the following.

In one embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the suction inlet comprises a socket adapted to accommodate a connecting cylinder of a supply conduit. The connecting cylinder is provided with a bearing, for example a ball bearing or a sliding bearing. The bearing allows the rotatable wheel to rotate about the connecting cylinder. This embodiment represents an easy way to attach a suction supply line to the wheel. It is only necessary to connect the connecting cylinder to the supply disc. The entire rotatable wheel including the supply disc can then rotate about the bearing while the supply line is fixedly arranged in the socket.

In a further embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the fluidic connections further comprise transfer disc channels extending within the transfer disc. Each of the transfer disc channels comprises a respective radial channel portion extending substantially radially from the bottom of the respective recess towards a respective radial innermost end. A respective transverse channel portion extends from the respective radial innermost end of the radial channel portion to a respective orifice provided in that surface of the transfer disc facing the connection disc. The respective orifice and the respective transverse channel portion have a cross-section which is larger than the cross-section of the radial channel portion. This allows for a good "transmission" of the suction to the bottom of the respective recess. Accordingly, it enables to reliably suck the objects into the recesses and to retain them in the recesses during transport to the location where the objects are to be inserted into the flow of continuous material.

In one particular embodiment of such apparatus the orifices in the surface of the transfer disc are arranged at an activation diameter. The connection disc comprises a centrally arranged opening which is in fluidic communication with the suction inlet of the supply disc. The centrally arranged opening of the connection disc has a diameter which is smaller than the activation diameter. Accordingly, there is no direct fluidic communication between the centrally arranged opening of the connection disc and the orifices arranged in the surface of the transfer disc. The connection disc further comprises a plurality of connection channels extending radially from the centrally arranged opening at least to the activation diameter. The connection channels are in fluidic communication with a circumferential activation channel. The activation channel is provided on the surface of the connection disc that is facing the transfer disc. The activation channel has an open surface facing towards the transfer disc. The transfer disc forms a cover closing the open surface of the activation channel except at the locations of the orifices where the activation channel is in fluidic communication with the orifices. Thus, the suction can be reliably transmitted from the suction inlet through the connection channels into the activation channel, and from the activation channel through the orifices of the transfer disc and the transfer channels to the bottom of the recesses.

In a variant of this embodiment of the apparatus, the connection disc comprises a number of connection channels which is smaller than the number of orifices in the transfer disc. The connection channels are provided in that surface of the connection disc facing the supply disc. The connection channels have an open surface facing towards the supply disc. The supply disc forms a cover closing the open surfaces of the connection channels. Through-openings are provided which extend from the connection channels through the connection disc to the circumferential activation channel to establish a fluidic communication. By way of example, the connection channels extend from the central opening straight in the radial direction (star shaped) to the activation diameter. There, the through-openings may be arranged which connect the connecting channels with the circumferential activation channel on the other side of the connection disc. This is a simple constructional solution for "distributing" the centrally supplied suction to the individual orifices and from there to the respective recesses in the transfer disc.

In an alternative embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the orifices in the surface of the transfer disc are also arranged at an activation diameter. The connection disc comprises a centrally arranged opening which is in fluidic communication with the suction inlet of the supply disc. The centrally arranged opening has a diameter which is larger than the activation diameter. Accordingly, the centrally arranged opening of the connection disc is in direct fluidic communication with the orifices of the transfer disc. The centrally arranged opening of the connection disc is covered by the supply disc from one side and by the transfer disc from the other side. This embodiment is different from the afore-described embodiments, since it does not comprise the connection channels. Instead, the centrally arranged opening is in direct fluidic communication with the orifices of the transfer disc so as to directly transmit the suction. The supply disc and the transfer disc both cover the centrally arranged opening so that the suction can be securely transmitted to the orifices of the transfer disc. This is an alternative simple constructional solution for "distributing" the centrally supplied suction to the individual orifices and from there to the respective recesses in the transfer disc.

A further embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention further comprises means for generating a circulating movement of the objects in the transfer chamber along a circulating path. A part of the circulating path extends along the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel in the direction of rotation of the rotatable transfer wheel. The circulating movement of the objects along the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel (or of the transfer disc, respectively) assists in making sure that an object is transferred into each of the recesses of the rotatable transfer wheel in order to avoid empty recesses. Also, circulating the objects in the transfer chamber prevents clogging within the transfer chamber. While the speed of the objects may generally vary within a wide range, preferably the speed of the objects along that part of the circulating path which extends along the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel is the same or substantially the same as the speed of the peripheral surface of the rotating transfer wheel. For example, the speed of the objects may vary from the speed of the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel within a range of about 25 percent slower to about 25 percent faster than the speed of the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel. More preferably, the speed of the objects may vary from the speed of the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel within a range of about 10 percent slower to about 10 percent faster than the speed of the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel (including the case where the speed of the objects and the speed of the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel are substantially identical). Generally, when the term "about" is used in connection with a particular value it always is intended to include the exact value.

Another embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention further comprises a return member. The return member is arranged in the transfer chamber at a curved side wall portion of the transfer chamber. The curved side wall portion and the return member are arranged at the end of that part of the circulating path that extends along the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel. In particular, the return member is arranged in a manner such that the return member and the curved side wall portion reverse the direction of movement of the objects in the transfer chamber. Thus, the return member further improves the circulating movement of the objects in the transfer chamber.

In one embodiment of such apparatus, the return member has a drop-like shape. The drop-shaped return member comprises a peak, two substantially straight flanks and a curved portion connecting the flanks. The peak faces towards the interior of the transfer chamber. This facing towards the interior is in a manner such that the flank of the drop facing towards the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel extends essentially tangential to the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel. This may further improve the circulating movement of the objects in the transfer chamber. The term "substantially straight flanks" is meant to comprise straight flanks as well as flanks which are slightly curved. Preferably, the substantially straight flank facing the transfer wheel has a concave curvature. Preferably, the curvature of that flank substantially corresponds to the curvature of the transfer wheel, that is, the curvature of the flank is concentric with the transfer wheel.

In particular, the straight flank may be arranged such that the space between the straight flank and the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel tapers in a direction towards the end of that part of the circulating path which extends along the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel. This may additionally assist the introduction of the objects into the recesses (pockets) of the transfer wheel. However, the space should only taper to an extent such that the objects do not get damaged or broken.

Preferably, the tapering is of the magnitude of less than about a quarter of the diameter of a capsule.

In a further embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the substantially straight flank facing towards the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel is arranged at a predetermined distance from the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel. This predetermined distance is selected such that a layer of one to six objects forms between the substantially straight flank and the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel. In particular, the predetermined distance is selected such that a layer of two to four objects forms between the substantially straight flank and the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel. Preferably, the layer is one object deep such that the objects are stacked on top of each other in the transfer zone.

This embodiment is advantageous in that it further contributes to the introduction of objects into the recesses in the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel, so that an object is retained in each recess as the respective recess of the rotatable transfer wheel leaves the zone of the transfer chamber.

In a still further embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention the means for generating the circulating movement of the objects in the transfer chamber comprise nozzles. These nozzles are arranged at the end of that part of the circulating path which extends along the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel. The nozzles are capable of generating air flows. These air flows, together with either the curved side wall portion of the transfer chamber or with the return member, or together with both the curved side wall portion and the return member, reverse the direction of movement of the objects in the transfer chamber. The nozzles still further improve the circulating movement of the objects in the transfer chamber.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for introducing objects into a continuous flow of material. The method comprises the steps of:

providing a reservoir containing a plurality of objects;

introducing the objects from the reservoir to a transfer chamber arranged between the reservoir and a rotatable transfer wheel, the rotatable transfer wheel having recesses; applying suction to the recesses of the rotatable transfer wheel thereby transferring the objects from the transfer chamber into the recesses of the rotatable transfer wheel and retaining the objects in the recesses;

transporting the objects retained in the recesses to an insertion location where the objects are to be introduced into the continuous flow of material; and

introducing the objects into the continuous flow of material at the insertion location.

The step of applying suction to the recesses of the rotatable transfer wheel is performed by applying suction through the center of the rotatable wheel through a suction inlet arranged in the center of the rotatable transfer wheel and through fluidic connections establishing a fluidic communication between the suction inlet and the recesses.

An embodiment of the method according to the invention further comprises the steps of:

generating a circulating movement of the objects in the transfer chamber such that at the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel the objects move along a circulating path extending in the direction of rotation of the rotatable transfer wheel;

in the transfer chamber, at the end of the circulating path of the objects along the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel, providing a return member to reverse the direction of movement of the objects in the transfer chamber, the return member having a drop-like shape comprising a peak, two straight flanks and a curved portion connecting the straight flanks, with the peak facing towards the interior of the transfer chamber in a manner such that the flank of the drop facing towards the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel extends essentially tangential to the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel.

The advantages of the embodiments of the methods are identical to the advantages already mentioned above with respect to the corresponding embodiments of the apparatus according to the invention.

Further advantageous aspects become apparent from the following description of embodiments of the apparatus and method according to the invention with the aid of the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of essential components of the apparatus according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a view through the front plate of the apparatus of Fig. 1 showing some additional details,

Fig. 3 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the central portion of an embodiment of the rota-table transfer wheel comprising a supply disc, a connection disc and a transfer disc, with a connecting cylinder of a central supply conduit being connected to the socket of the supply disc; Fig. 4 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the rotatable transfer wheel showing some details of the transfer disc and of the connection disc;

Fig. 5 shows a first embodiment of the connection disc of the rotatable transfer wheel in front of the transfer disc;

Fig. 6 shows a second embodiment of the connection disc of the rotatable transfer wheel in front of the transfer disc;

Fig. 7 shows a third embodiment of the connection disc of the rotatable transfer wheel in front of the transfer disc; and Fig. 8 shows a detail of the transfer chamber with a return member being arranged therein to reverse the flow of objects through the transfer chamber.

In Fig. 1 a perspective view of an embodiment of essential components of the apparatus according to the invention are shown in an assembled state, while Fig. 2 shows a front view of this embodiment disclosing some additional details. As can be seen from Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the apparatus comprises a reservoir 1 where the objects, for example capsules or beads to be introduced in the continuous flow of material, are provided. A non-transparent front plate 10 of reservoir 1 can be seen in Fig. 1 while in Fig. 2 front plate 10 is shown to be transparent so that additional details of the apparatus are visible.

As can be seen in Fig. 2, the apparatus further comprises a transfer chamber 2 which is arranged between reservoir 1 and a rotatable transfer wheel 3. A return member 20 having a drop-like shape is arranged in transfer chamber 2. Return member 20 helps to reverse the movement of the capsules along the periphery of rotatable transfer wheel 3 in transfer chamber 20, as will be discussed in more detail further below.

A number of nozzles 100 are arranged in front wall 10. With the aid of nozzles 100, overpressure or suction can be applied in order to create a circulating movement of the capsules in transfer chamber 2 as this is indicated in Fig. 2 by the arrows in the transfer chamber 2, and in order to assist the capsules in getting moved towards rotatable transfer wheel 3. Transfer chamber 2 is formed between a rear wall 1 1 and front wall 10. The depth of transfer chamber 2 between front wall 10 and rear wall 1 1 is such that only one layer of capsules is allowed to form. By way of example, the depth ("thickness") of transfer chamber 2 may be in a range of about 1 10 percent to about 120 percent of the outer dimensions of the capsules or beads. Additional nozzles (not shown) may be arranged in rear wall 1 1 in a position similar to the position of nozzles 100 in front wall 10. Through these additional nozzles overpressure or suction can be applied in a similar manner as through nozzles 100, in order to create the circulating movement of the capsules in transfer chamber 2, and in order to assist the movement of the capsules towards the peripheral surface of rotatable transfer wheel 3. During the movement of the capsules towards and along the peripheral surface of rotatable transfer wheel 3 the capsules are sucked into recesses provided in the peripheral surface of rotatable transfer wheel 3 (the recesses not being visible in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2). This is performed by applying suction through the bottom of the individual recesses in order to suck one capsule into each recess, where the capsule is retained until the capsule is introduced into a continuous flow of material, for example into filter tow. This introduction of the capsule is performed by a unit for introducing the capsules into a continuous flow of material. The unit for introducing the capsules into the filter tow is not shown in the drawings and may be a conventional unit which is well-known in the art. By way of example, a suitable unit for introducing the capsules into the continuous flow of filter tow is shown in Figs. 10-12 of WO 2010/055120 and is described in detail in the corresponding parts of the specification thereof. The disclosure related to this unit for introducing the capsules into the continuous flow of filter material is therefore incorporated herein by reference. As can be seen in WO 201/055120, the capsules are introduced into the continuous flow of filter tow when the respective recess of the rotatable transfer wheel is at the lowermost position.

Fig. 3 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the central portion of an embodiment of rotatable transfer wheel 3. Rotatable transfer wheel 3 comprises a supply disc 30, a connection disc 31 and a transfer disc 32. A connecting cylinder 40 of a central supply conduit 4 is connected to socket 300 of supply disc 30. Socket 300 forms the suction inlet and is adapted to accommodate connecting cylinder 40. Connecting cylinder 40 is provided with a ball bearing 400. Ball bearing 400 allows rotatable transfer wheel 3 to rotate about connecting cylinder 40 while suction can be centrally supplied to rotatable wheel 3 through supply conduit 4. An O-ring 301 is arranged in a groove 302 provided in supply disc 30 to surround the innermost end of connecting cylinder 40, so that the suction supplied through conduit 4 and through connecting cylinder 40 is applied to a central opening 310 provided in connection disc 31 . Connection disc 31 "distributes" the suction radially outwardly to transfer disc channels provided in transfer disc 32. These transfer disc channels lead to the respective bottoms of the recesses in which the beads are retained.

Fig. 4 shows an exploded schematic view of an embodiment of rotatable transfer wheel 3 comprising supply disc 30, connection disc 31 and transfer disc 32. While supply disc 30 is only shown schematically, some details of connection disc 31 and of transfer disc 32 are shown in Fig. 4. In particular, it can be seen from Fig. 4 that transfer disc 32 comprises recesses 320 into which the capsules are sucked from transfer chamber 2. The capsules are retained in recesses 320 during their transport to the unit for introducing the capsules into the continuous flow of filter tow. From the bottom of the respective recess

320 a transfer disc channel 321 extends. Transfer disc channel 321 comprises a radial channel portion 322 that extends radially towards an innermost end. From this innermost end of radial channel portion 322 a transverse channel portion 323 extends to an orifice 324 provided in the surface 325 of transfer disc 32 facing connection disc 31. Orifices 324 are circularly arranged at an activation diameter 326. In the following, further details of Fig. 4 will be explained in connection with the embodiment of connection disc 31 shown in Fig. 5. Connection disc 31 comprises a centrally arranged opening 310 (see Fig. 5) having an inner diameter 31 1 (see also Fig. 5) which is smaller than activation diameter 326. Accordingly, centrally arranged opening 310 is not in direct fluidic communication with orifices 324 of transfer disc 32. A plurality of connection channels 312 extend radially outwardly from centrally arranged opening 310 (see Fig. 5) to activation diameter 326 (see Fig. 4) or a little bit further outwardly than activation diameter 326. Connection channels 312 are provided in the surface of connection disc 31 that faces supply disc 30. Connection channels 312 have an open surface facing towards supply disc 30. When mounted, supply disc 30 covers connection channels 312 and closes the open surfaces of connection channels 312 so as to form substantially fluid- tight channels.

On the surface facing transfer disc 32, connection disc 31 comprises a circumferential activation channel 314. Activation channel 314 is arranged at activation diameter 326 and has an open surface facing towards transfer disc 32. Activation channel 314 provided on the surface facing transfer disc 32 and connection channels 312 provided on the surface facing supply disc 30 are connected by through-openings 313. When being mounted, transfer disc 32 closes the open surface of circumferential activation channel 314 except at the locations of orifices 324.

Thus, a fluidic communication between the suction inlet and recesses 320 is established via centrally arranged opening 310, connecting channels 312, through- openings 313, activation channel 314, orifices 324 and transfer disc channel 321 .

Fig. 6 shows a second embodiment of a connection disc 34. This embodiment of connection disc 34 is to some extent similar to the embodiment of connection disc 31 shown in Fig. 5. Connection disc 34 has a centrally arranged opening 340 which has an inner diameter 341 smaller than the activation diameter 326 (see Fig. 4). Connection disc 34 comprises connection channels 342 which are wider than the connection channels 312 of connection disc 31. Connections channels 342 again have an open surface facing towards supply disc 30 (not shown in Fig. 6). When being mounted, supply disc 30 covers channels 342 and closes the open surfaces of connection channels 342, so that substantially fluid-tight channels are formed. Through-openings 343 are provided to connect connection channels 342 and the activation channel. The activation channel is not visible in Fig. 6, but is arranged as shown in Fig. 4. Some of the orifices 324 of transfer disc 32 are visible through the through-openings 343 of connection disc 34. The suction is transmitted in a similar manner as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 5 and described above in connection with Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, so that it is not described again here.

In Fig. 7 a third embodiment of a connection disc 35 is shown. In this embodiment of connection disc 35, the centrally arranged opening 350 has an inner diameter 351 which is larger than the activation diameter 326 (see Fig. 4). Consequently, no connection channels are present in this embodiment of connection disc 35. Orifices 324 of transfer disc 32 are visible in Fig. 7. When being mounted, centrally arranged opening 350 is covered from one side by supply disc 30 and from the other side by transfer disc 32 in a substantially fluid-tight manner. Thus, suction applied through centrally arranged opening 350 is directly transmitted to orifices 324 and from there through transfer channels 321 to recesses 320 (see also Fig. 4).

In Fig. 8 a detail of transfer chamber 2 is represented showing return member 20 in more detail. Return member 20 is arranged in transfer chamber 2 at the end of that part of the circulating path of the capsules which extends along the peripheral surface of rotatable transfer wheel 3. Return member 20 has a drop-like shape comprising a peak 200, two flanks 201 , and a curved portion 202 connecting the two flanks 201 . Peak 200 faces towards the interior of transfer chamber 2. That flank 201 which faces towards the peripheral surface of rotatable transfer wheel 3 extends essentially tangential to the peripheral surface of transfer wheel 3 so as to allow the capsules to flow around return member 20. Thus, return member 20 assists in reversing the direction of movement of the capsules in transfer chamber 2.

Flank 201 of return member 20 facing towards the peripheral surface of rotatable transfer wheel 3 is arranged at a predetermined distance 204 from the peripheral surface of rotatable transfer wheel 3. Predetermined distance 204 is selected such that a layer of one to six capsules may form between flank 201 and the peripheral surface of rotatable transfer wheel 3. In particular, predetermined distance 204 can be selected such that a layer of from two to four capsules forms between flank 201 and the peripheral surface of rotatable transfer wheel 3. As can also be seen, return member 20 may be arranged such that the space between flank 201 and the peripheral surface of rotatable transfer wheel 3 tapers slightly. The space tapers in the direction towards the end of that part of the circulating path which extends along the peripheral surface of rotatable transfer wheel 3. This may cause a slight pressure on the capsules as they move along the circulating path. This slight pressure may assist the insertion of the capsules into the recesses 320 of rotatable transfer wheel 3. However, the tapering must be selected such that the slight "pressure" produced through the said tapering cannot cause any damage or breaking of the capsules or beads.

In addition, one or more nozzles 203 may be arranged at the end of the circulating path of the capsules along the peripheral surface of rotatable transfer wheel 3 (or transfer disc 32, respectively). Nozzles 203 are capable of transmitting air flows which reverse the direction of movement of the capsules in the transfer chamber 2, together with either the curved side wall of transfer chamber 2, or together with return member 20, or together with both the curved side wall and return member 20, as this is indicated by the arrows represented in Fig. 8.

In operation, reservoir 1 is filled with capsules which enter under the influence of gravity into transfer chamber 2 at the lower end of reservoir 1 (see Fig. 1 ). In transfer chamber 2, a circulating movement of the capsules is generated, as is indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. The capsules move along the peripheral surface of rotatable transfer wheel 3. Each of the recesses 320 is filled with a capsule due to suction being applied to the bottom of the respective recess 320. Those capsules not sucked into a re-cess 320 are returned along the circulating path indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2 with the aid of return member 20 and nozzles 203. Those capsules sucked into a recess 320 are transported by rotatable transfer wheel 3 to a unit for introducing the capsules beads into a continuous flow of filter material. At that position the capsules are released from the recesses 320 and introduced into the filter material, as described in detail in WO-A- 2010/055120. During further rotation of rotatable transfer wheel 3, an empty recess 320 again reaches the zone of transfer chamber 2 where a capsule is sucked into recess 320 again, as described above.

The capsules are moving along the peripheral surface of rotatable transfer wheel 3 with a speed which is the same or substantially the same as the speed of the peripheral surface of rotatable transfer wheel 3. In particular, the speed of the capsules along the peripheral surface of rotatable transfer wheel 3 is within a range of 25 percent slower to 25 percent faster than the speed of the peripheral surface of rotatable transfer wheel 3. More preferably, the speed of the capsules is within a range of 10 percent slower to 10 percent faster than the speed of the peripheral surface of rotatable transfer wheel 3. A speed of movement of the capsules which is the same or substantially the same as the speed of the peripheral surface of rotatable transfer wheel 3 is advantageous, since it further improves the transfer of capsules from transfer chamber 2 to recesses 320 of rotatable transfer wheel 3 due to the substantial synchronization of the capsule speed and the transfer wheel speed.

Claims

1 . Apparatus for introducing objects into a continuous flow of material, comprising:

- a reservoir (1 ) for providing a plurality of objects;

- a rotatable transfer wheel (3) for transporting the objects to an insertion unit for introducing the objects into the continuous flow of material;

- a transfer chamber (2) for transferring the objects to the rotatable transfer wheel (3), the transfer chamber (2) being arranged between the reservoir (1 ) and the rotatable transfer wheel (3),

wherein the rotatable transfer wheel (3) is provided with recesses (320) into which the objects can be transferred and in which the objects can be retained through the application of suction until the objects are delivered from the rotatable transfer wheel (3) to the insertion unit for introducing the objects into the continuous flow of material,

and wherein the rotatable transfer wheel (3) comprises a suction inlet arranged in the center of the rotatable transfer wheel (3) such as to provide suction through the center of the rotatable wheel (3) and comprising fluidic connections for providing a fluidic communication between the suction inlet and the recesses (320).

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the transfer wheel (3) comprises three adjacently arranged discs (30,31 ,32;34, 35), a transfer disc (32) comprising the recesses (320) for receiving the objects from the transfer chamber (2), a connection disc (31 ;34;35) comprising at least a part of the fluidic connections between the suction inlet and the recesses (320), and a supply disc (30) comprising the suction inlet arranged in the center of the supply disc (30), the connection disc (31 ;34;35) being arranged in between the supply disc (30) and the transfer disc (32).

3. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the suction inlet comprises a socket (300) adapted to accommodate a connecting cylinder (40) of a supply conduit (4), the connecting cylinder (40) being provided with a bearing (400), the bearing (400) allowing the rotatable wheel (3;30,31 ,32;34,35) to rotate about the connecting cylinder (40).

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the fluidic connections further comprise transfer disc channels (321 ) extending within the transfer disc (32), each of the transfer disc channels (321 ) comprising a respective radial channel portion (322) extending radially inwardly from the bottom of the respective recess (320) towards a respective radial innermost end and a respective transverse channel portion (323) extending from the respective radial innermost end of the radial channel portion (322) to a respective orifice (324) provided in that surface (325) of the transfer disc (32) facing the connection disc (31 ;34;35), the respective orifice (324) and the respective transverse channel portion (323) having a cross-section which is larger than the cross-section of the radial channel portion (322).

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the orifices (324) in the surface (325) of the transfer disc (32) are arranged at an activation diameter (326), and wherein the connection disc (31 ;34) comprises a centrally arranged opening (310;340) which is in fluidic communication with the suction inlet of the supply disc (30), the centrally arranged opening (310;340) of the connection disc (31 ;34) having a diameter (31 1 ;341 ) which is smaller than the activation diameter (326), and wherein the connection disc (31 ;34) further comprises a plurality of connection channels (312; 342) extending radially outwardly from the centrally arranged opening (310;340) to the activation diameter and being in fluidic communication with a circumferential activation channel (314), the activation channel (314) being provided at the activation diameter on that surface of the connection disc facing the transfer disc (32), the activation channel (314) having an open surface facing towards the transfer disc (32), the transfer disc (32) forming a cover closing the open surface of the activation channel (314) except at the locations of the orifices (324) where the activation channel (314) is in fluidic communication with the orifices (324).

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the connection disc (31 ; 34) comprises a number of connection channels (312;342) which is smaller than the number of orifices

(324) in the transfer disc (32), wherein the connection channels (312;342) are provided in that surface of the connection disc (31 ;34) facing the supply disc (30), the connection channels (312;342) having an open surface facing towards the supply disc (30) with the supply disc (30) forming a cover closing the open surfaces of the connection channels (312;342), and wherein through-openings (313;343) are provided which extend from the connection channels (312;342) through the connection disc (31 ;34) to the circumferential activation channel (314) to establish the fluidic communication of the connection channels (312;342) with the circumferential activation channel (314).

7. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the orifices (324) in the surface of the transfer disc (32) are arranged at an activation diameter (326), wherein the connection disc (35) comprises a centrally arranged opening (350) which is in fluidic communication with the suction inlet of the supply disc (30), and wherein the centrally arranged opening (350) has a diameter (351 ) which is larger than the activation diameter, so that the centrally arranged opening (350) of the connection disc (35) is in direct fluidic communication with the orifices (324) of the transfer disc (32), the centrally arranged opening (350) of the connection disc (35) being covered by the supply disc (30) from one side and by the transfer disc (32) from the other side.

8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising means for generating a circulating movement of the objects in the transfer chamber (2) along a circulating path, a part of the circulating path extending along the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel (3) in the direction of rotation of the rotatable transfer wheel (3).

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a return member (20) which is arranged in the transfer chamber (2) at a curved side wall portion of the transfer chamber (2), the curved side wall portion and the return member (20) being arranged at the end of that part of the circulating path extending along the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel (3) in a manner such that the return member (20) and the curved side wall portion reverse the direction of movement of the objects in the transfer chamber (2).

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the return member (20) has a drop-like shape comprising a peak (200), two substantially straight flanks (201 ) and a curved portion (202) connecting the substantially straight flanks (201 ), with the peak (200) facing towards the interior of the transfer chamber (2) in a manner such that the flank (201 ) of the drop facing towards the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel (3) extends essentially tangential to the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel (3).

1 1. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the straight flank (201 ) facing towards the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel (203) is arranged at a predetermined distance (204) from the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel (3), the predetermined distance (204) being selected such that a layer of one to six objects forms between the flank (201 ) and the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel (3), in particular a layer of two to four objects.

12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 1 1 , wherein the means for generating the circulating movement of the objects in the transfer chamber (2) comprise nozzles (203) arranged at the end of that part of the circulating path which extends along the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel (3), said nozzles (203) being capable of generating air flows which, together with either the curved side wall portion of the transfer chamber (2) or with the return member (20), or together with both the curved side wall portion of the transfer chamber (2) and the return member (20), reverse the direction of movement of the objects in the transfer chamber (2).

13. A method for introducing objects into a continuous flow of material, comprising the steps of:

- providing a reservoir (1 ) containing a plurality of objects;

- introducing the objects from the reservoir (1 ) to a transfer chamber (2) arranged between the reservoir (1 ) and a rotatable transfer wheel (3), the rotatable transfer wheel (3) having recesses (320);

- applying suction to the recesses (320) of the rotatable transfer wheel (3) thereby transferring the objects from the transfer chamber (2) into the recesses (320) of the rotatable transfer wheel (3) and retaining the objects in the recesses (320);

- transporting the objects retained in the recesses (320) to an insertion location where the objects are to be introduced into the continuous flow of material;

- introducing the objects into the continuous flow of material at the insertion location, wherein applying suction to the recesses (320) of the rotatable transfer wheel (3) is performed by applying suction through the center of the rotatable transfer wheel (3) through a suction inlet arranged in the center of the rotatable transfer wheel (3) and through fluidic connections establishing a fluidic communication between the suction inlet and the recesses (320).

14. Method according to claim 13, wherein the steps of providing a transfer wheel further comprises providing three adjacently arranged discs (30,31 ,32;34, 35), a transfer disc (32) comprising the recesses (320) for receiving the objects from the transfer chamber (2), a connection disc (31 ;34;35) comprising at least a part of the fluidic connections between the suction inlet and the recesses (320), and a supply disc (30) comprising the suction inlet arranged in the center of the supply disc (30), the connection disc (31 ;34;35) being arranged in between the supply disc (30) and the transfer disc (32).

15. Method according to any one of claims 13 and 14, further comprising the step of generating a circulating movement of the objects in the transfer chamber (2) along a circulating path, a part of the circulating path extending along the peripheral surface of the rotatable transfer wheel (3) in the direction of rotation of the rotatable transfer wheel (3).